EP3174583B1 - Nebulizer and method for producing a nebulizer - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a nebulizer with an aerosol generator and a method for producing a nebulizer.

From the DE 19602628 A1 , nebulizers with a nozzle arranged in a nebulization room and a supply air chimney protruding into the nebulization room are known. In addition, the WO 2013/030117 A2 discloses a fluid cartridge for dispensing a fluid and a dispersion device.

The following nebulizers with an aerosol generator are also known: US 2004/0031485 , WO 01/56639 , WO 99/42154 , US 2011/0114090 , EP0786263 .

The object of the invention is to provide a nebulizer with which a high output rate can be achieved and a method for producing such a nebulizer. This object is achieved by a nebulizer with the features in claim 1 or 2 or a method with the features of claim 11 or 12. The output rate is understood to mean the amount of aerosol that passes the outlet over time.

An aerosol is a mixture of suspended particles in a gas. The suspended particles can be solid or liquid. There can also be solid and liquid suspended particles. Aerosol drops are drops of liquid in a gas.

A nebulizer is a device that is set up to provide and dispense an aerosol.

An aerosol generator is a device that is set up to generate an aerosol. An aerosol generator is preferably a device which is set up to generate drops of liquid and to mix them with a gas. An aerosol generator preferably has a nebulizer, an atomizer, a humidifier, a compressed air nebulizer, an air atomizer, an electronic nebulizer, an ultrasonic nebulizer, an electrohydrodynamic nebulizer, an electrostatic one A nebulizer, a membrane nebulizer, a nebulizer with a vibrating membrane, an electronic nebulizer with a vibrating membrane, a mesh nebulizer, a jet nebulizer, an inhaler (MDI), a powder atomizer (DPI), or a combination thereof. In one embodiment, the inhaler has a pressurized canister with a medicament and a propellant gas. The canister is expediently connected to a manually operated actuator. It is advantageous if the inhaler is set up to deliver a certain amount of medicament in aerosol form when activated. In one embodiment, the aerosol generating device is set up for use with ventilation devices.

A nebulization room is a room that is set up so that aerosol flows through it. A nebulization room can be a room which is set up to receive an aerosol at least temporarily.

An outlet is a device that is provided to let an aerosol out of the nebulization space. The outlet is expediently set up to be connected to a component such as a mouthpiece or a mask.

A plastic component is a component that has a plastic. The component can consist entirely of plastic. The plastic can be an organic, polymeric solid which has been produced synthetically or semi-synthetically from monomeric organic molecules or biopolymers. The plastic can be a thermoplastic, thermosetting plastic or elastomer. The plastic component can for example comprise a polypropylene.

A wetting surface is a surface that is designed to be wetted by a liquid. Wetting occurs when a liquid forms a contact angle of 90 degrees or less with the wetting surface.

In one embodiment, the wetting surface has, at least temporarily, preferably permanently, a surface tension of 32 to 5000 millinewtons per meter (mN / m). The surface tension is preferably between 35 and 400 millinewtons per meter (mN / m), particularly preferably between 44 and 73 millinewtons per meter (mN / m). The surface tension can be between 50 and 72 millinewtons per meter (mN / m).

The wetting surface can have a wetting material. Preferred wetting materials are metals and glass. In one embodiment, the wetting surface has ABS.

The wetting surface can have a predetermined surface roughness. The mean roughness value R _a can be between 6.3 and 0.006. The mean roughness value R _{a is} preferably between 1.6 and 0.01, particularly preferably between 0.5 and 0.006. The surface roughness is preferably provided by a correspondingly configured casting mold, such as an injection mold or die casting mold, and a corresponding production process.

The wetting surface can be cleaned.

The wetting surface can have a temperature between 20 and 80 degrees, preferably between 40 and 50 degrees.

The wetting surface can have a surface treatment.

The wetting surface is preferably printed or coated, particularly preferably it is lacquered or glued.

The wetting surface can be blasted. In particular, it can be blasted with sand, glass beads, ceramics, steel, dry ice, corundum, steel shot, steel balls, wire grain, emery, bronze gravel, blast furnace slag, calcium carbonate granules or plastics.

The wetting surface can be corona-treated, flame-treated, fluorinated, plasma-treated, in particular oxygen-plasma-treated or low-pressure plasma-treated, ozone-treated or treated with UV light. The wetting surface is particularly preferably a fluorinated wetting surface. The fluorinated wetting surface has preferably been achieved by replacing hydrogen atoms of a polymer chain with fluorine atoms. The fluorinated surface or fluorinated wetting surface has been exposed to fluorine, expediently a fluorine mixture. This is preferably done at room temperature, particularly preferably at 25 ° C. It is useful if no temperature peaks have occurred. The depth of penetration of the fluorine atoms into the substrate is preferably in the molecular range. It is preferred if the properties of the base material are unchanged stayed. The base material comprises plastic, preferably the base material ABS, EPDM, plastic made from renewable raw materials, NBR, HNBR, PEEK, PMMA, polyamide, polyester, polyethylene, LDPE, PE-UHMW, POM, PET, EPDM, PBT, polycarbonate, polyphenyl sulfide , Polysiloxane elastomer, glass fiber-containing polymer, mixed polymer, polypropylene, silicone, rubber or TPE. The surface energy of the wetting surface can have been adapted to the surface energy of a liquid. The liquid preferably comprises saline solution or a medicament.

In one embodiment, the fluorinated wetting surface has been achieved by gas phase fluorination. In gas-phase fluorination, the object or component is exposed to fluorine, expediently a fluorine mixture in gaseous form, so that hydrogen atoms are replaced by fluorine atoms in the outermost edge layer. As a result, a surface of a component can be treated relatively independently of its geometry. The fluorinated wetting surface has preferably been achieved by treating the component in a vacuum reactor. The fluorinated component can have been treated as bulk material in a preferably cylindrical chamber. It is advantageous if the fluorinated component has been placed in a preferably cubic chamber in a basket, in a lattice box or in a special load carrier. The fluorinated component can have been treated in a continuous reactor.

In one embodiment, the fluorinated wetting surface has been achieved by further processing fluorinated powder or granules by injection molding or blow molding. The powder or granules can have been fluorinated in such a way that the fluorine atoms are only located in an outer region of the powder particles or the granules. The fluorine atoms can also have penetrated deeper into the powder particles or granules or they can be located in all areas of the powder particles or granules. The powder or granulate has expediently been fluorinated by gas phase fluorination. For this purpose, polyolefin powder or granulate has preferably been used. The fluorination of the powder or granulate has preferably been produced in a rotary drum with built-in blades or in a reactor with a movable stirrer. It is useful if the reactor is cylindrical and the stirrer is set up to rotate.

As a result, a surface with a strongly polar character that is active over a longer period of time can be achieved without affecting the base material. The fluorination of the surface is preferably not reversible. A barrier layer, preferably a permeation layer, can have been built up. Permeation, diffusion, migration, friction, adhesion and stickiness may have been reduced. Adhesion, film formation, adhesion and wettability may have increased. Better drainage of liquids, faster drying, higher print quality, better cleanliness, as dirt particles do not adhere, as well as less limescale and mold formation, better assembly, or a visually more appealing surface can be achieved. The barrier layer can prevent components of plastic material from diffusing out of the surface or a container filling from penetrating a wall. Odors, environmental pollution, swelling, a greasy surface and label peeling can be prevented. The property achieved can be long-term stable even after cleaning and sterilization processes. A surface of a workpiece can be fluorinated in such a way that the dimensions of the workpiece are the same before and after fluorination. An antibacterial or antimicrobial effect may have been achieved. The antibacterial or antimicrobial effect can be temporary.

The wetting surface may have been subjected to surface activation.

By providing the wetting surface, it is achieved that drops of liquid which reach a surface of the nebulization space come into contact with the wetting surface. A liquid film is formed. The effect can also be achieved that liquid slides off the surface.

This is advantageous because on surfaces that are not or only poorly wettable, liquid droplets can form which protrude far from the surface. As a result, a cross section of the nebulization chamber through which a flow can be reduced. A reduced cross-section can cause more aerosol droplets to strike and adhere to the surfaces of the nebulization space and the liquid droplets already present on the surface. These aerosol drops cannot then reach the outlet.

In addition, large droplets can detach from a poorly wettable surface and drip down through a space through which an aerosol flows. Aerosol droplets are taken along, which can then no longer reach the outlet. This lowers the output rate.

In one embodiment, a wetting surface is provided in such a way that a liquid film can form thereon and that drops that collide with the liquid film can generate further drops.

In one embodiment, the respirable rate can be increased by up to 30%. For this purpose, a surface treatment is preferably provided on a nozzle attachment and a nebulizer lower part. In preferred embodiments, the duration of therapy can be reduced by 20%, the residual volume can be reduced, the patient can receive a higher dose of medicament in a shorter period of time and the nebuliser efficiency can be increased. These properties are preferably retained even after cleaning in the dishwasher and after 10 autoclaving cycles at 134 ° C.

In one embodiment, the aerosol generator has a nozzle. In combination with a nozzle, it is particularly useful to provide a wetting surface, since nozzles can generate aerosols, the particles of which have large differences in diameter. As a result, very large drops of liquid tend to adhere to the surfaces of the nebulization chamber. You can greatly reduce the cross-section to be flown through and greatly reduce the output rate.

The nozzle is preferably provided with a liquid supply and is designed to allow gas to flow through it. The nozzle can be designed as a two-substance nozzle with an internal mixture or as a two-substance nozzle with an external mixture.

It is expedient that the nebulization space has an aerosol guide which connects the aerosol generator to the outlet, and that the aerosol guide has the wetting surface. A large part of the aerosol that is suitable for being guided to the outlet can thus reach the outlet.

The aerosol guide is preferably a cavity through which the generated aerosol has to move in order to reach the outlet. Appropriately the aerosol guide has a continuous path along which the aerosol can pass through the aerosol guide.

The aerosol guide can be partially provided with the wetting surface, preferably it is completely lined with the wetting surface.

In one embodiment, a surface of the aerosol guide has the wetting surface. Since surfaces can be easily processed, a cross section of the aerosol guide can be maintained at least largely in a simple manner.

A surface is preferably a two-dimensional boundary surface of a body. A surface can be flat, a surface can also have a curvature.

If an edge of the aerosol guide has the wetting surface, it can be achieved that the liquid is applied particularly well to the edge. The wetting surface is preferably designed in such a way that liquid flows off the edge well. The effect that liquid is deposited on the edge in such a way that the edge is laid can be reduced or avoided.

This is particularly desirable for edges that have a function. The function can be to provide a defined cross section, as in the case of a diaphragm. A function can also be the specification of a defined path for filtering out undesirable components in the aerosol. The edge can delimit a filter surface, as described below, which is provided to filter out aerosol droplets with a predetermined diameter from an aerosol flow.

In one embodiment, the aerosol guide has a passage and the passage has the wetting surface. It can thereby be achieved that the cross section of the aerosol guide is largely or completely retained at a point that is particularly important for the output rate.

A passage is preferably an area in the aerosol guide which has a smaller cross section than areas adjoining it. A passage can be a constriction which is set up to influence pressures or velocities of fluids flowing through, such as a nozzle or an orifice.

According to claims 1 and 11, the nebulization space has a boundary wall which has the wetting surface. In this way, it can be achieved that comparatively large amounts of liquid are quickly returned to a reservoir. In addition, the residual amount that remains in the nebulizer after use and is not made available to the patient can be reduced particularly effectively.

A boundary wall is a wall that separates the nebulization room from the surroundings.

According to claims 2 and 12, the nebulization room has an air supply which has the wetting surface. The air supplied can thus be directed particularly precisely.

An air supply is set up in such a way that it can allow ambient air to enter the nebulization room and is set up to direct ambient air past the aerosol generator to the outlet. This allows the aerosol to be effectively directed to the outlet.

The air supply is preferably designed as a supply air chimney.

In one embodiment, the nebulization space has an impact surface, and the impact surface has the wetting surface. It can thus be achieved that aerosol droplets which are applied to the impact surface have as little influence as possible on the surface and contour of the impact surface. A constant function of the impact surface can be achieved.

A baffle is a surface that is set up so that aerosol moves against it. If the impact surface is touched, aerosol droplets can break down into smaller aerosol droplets.

A baffle can be provided on an air flow control. The air flow control can be provided at the outlet of a fluid flow. In one embodiment, the air flow control is arranged in the fluid flow opposite an outlet opening. The outlet opening is expediently the outlet opening of a nozzle, preferably a gas nozzle.

An impact surface can be provided on an impact screen. An impact screen is a component that is arranged adjacent to an aerosol generator.

The impact screen is preferably arranged in such a way that aerosol droplets, the diameter of which is greater than a predetermined diameter, can impact on it. For this purpose, in one embodiment it extends at least in one plane around the aerosol generator. It can in particular be cylindrical, frustoconical or conical.

The provision of a wetting surface on an impact screen can be particularly advantageous if the aerosol guide is designed in such a way that the impact screen has a particularly small cross section through which a flow can flow. Adhering liquid could further reduce this cross section, so that less aerosol can flow to the outlet. By providing a wetting surface on the impact screen, it can be achieved that the liquid that has reached the impact screen can attach itself more strongly to the impact screen and can move away from the impact screen more quickly.

In one embodiment, the nebulization space has a filter surface, and the filter surface has the wetting surface.

In order to be able to fulfill the function of a filter, a filter surface can be arranged in such a way that predominantly larger liquid drops collide against it and smaller liquid drops are guided past it. This can be achieved by arranging the filter surface in an area which is intended for an aerosol to experience a change in direction. In such areas, larger and smaller drops of liquid are typically distributed predominantly in certain sub-areas, so that the arrangement and configuration of the baffle can determine which drops of liquid are filtered out.

The edge of the filter surface can determine which aerosol droplets are still being filtered out and which aerosol droplets can pass through the filter surface.

This function of the filter surface means that it is provided with particularly large amounts of liquid droplets. However, this function also requires a precise shape of the filter surface. The The shape of the filter surface can be changed by the liquid droplets on it so that the droplet spectrum of the filtered liquid droplets changes.

The drop spectrum indicates the occurrence of liquid droplets with specific diameters in the aerosol.

In order to keep the change in the shape of the filter surface as small as possible, it makes sense to provide the filter surface with a wetting surface. As a result, applied drops of liquid can lie on the filter surface in such a way that they change the shape of the filter surface little. In addition, the wetting surface can be designed in such a way that drops of liquid flow off so well that they are quickly removed from the filter surface and there is little liquid on the filter surface.

A filter surface can be provided on a nebulization room divider. A nebulization space divider is preferably set up to subdivide the nebulization space in such a way that the aerosol has to change direction in order to be able to reach the outlet. In connection with this function, the nebulization room divider can separate aerosol with a desired droplet spectrum from aerosol with an undesired droplet spectrum according to the principle described above.

The filter surface can be provided on a labyrinth guide. A labyrinth guide is an aerosol guide through which at least one, preferably at least two or three changes in direction of the aerosol are required. In connection with this property, the labyrinth guide can separate aerosol with a desired droplet spectrum from aerosol with an undesired droplet spectrum according to the principle described above.

The filter surface can be provided on an impact screen. As described above, the impact screen is preferably arranged in such a way that a predetermined range of droplets is directed against it. For this purpose, as described above, in one embodiment it extends at least in one plane around the aerosol generator. It can in particular be cylindrical, frustoconical or conical. In order to be able to reach the outlet, the aerosol must expediently change direction in the area of the impact screen, preferably adjacent to a surface, in particular adjacent to an edge of the impact screen.

In this case, the impact screen is expediently arranged in such a way that, according to the principle described above, it prevents aerosol droplets which should not reach the outlet from making their way to the outlet. Such aerosol droplets can be directed onto a surface of the impact screen so that they can collide against it and adhere to it. In one embodiment, the nebulizer is set up in such a way that inhaled air can flow past the aerosol generator inside through the baffle screen, taking aerosol with it, flowing on around the edge of the baffle screen and along an outer side of the baffle screen in the opposite direction. In doing so, aerosol droplets that are too large to follow this path are deposited on the inside of the deflector. The positioning of the edge of the baffle screen determines which aerosol droplets are just still deposited on the baffle screen and which aerosol droplets can just get further in the direction of the outlet. It is therefore important for the droplet spectrum of the aerosol directed to the outlet that the outer dimensions of the edge are not changed by adhering liquid, since the filtered-out droplet spectrum can then change. As a result, the provision of a wetting surface on the edge of the impact screen, on the inside of the impact screen or on the entire impact screen is particularly useful.

The nebulization chamber has a reservoir, and it is useful if the reservoir has the wetting surface. As a result, liquid can collect particularly well in an area of the reservoir provided for this purpose.

A reservoir is a storage device which is intended for the storage of liquids, in particular for the storage of medicines. The reservoir is set up to deliver liquid to the aerosol generator. The nebulizer is set up in such a way that liquid that has deposited on surfaces in the nebulization chamber can get into the reservoir.

The object is further achieved by a method for producing a nebulizer with a wetting surface, comprising the steps according to claim 11 or 11 12, in particular: producing a nebulizer with an aerosol generator, a nebulization space and an outlet, the aerosol generator being set up to deliver an aerosol into the nebulization space and the outlet being set up to enable the aerosol to be removed from the nebulization space, and providing a wetting surface in the nebulization room, the wetting surface being provided by fluorination.

• Figur 1 zeigt ein Ausführungsbeispiel eines Verneblers mit einer Benetzungsoberfläche an einem Zuluftkamin,
• Figur 2 zeigt einen Querschnitt eines Verneblers ohne Benetzungsoberfläche,
• Figur 3 zeigt einen Querschnitt des in Figur 1 gezeigten Verneblers,
• Figur 4 zeigt einen Vernebler, bei dem der Verneblungsraum vollständig mit der Benetzungsoberfläche versehen ist.
• Figur 5 zeigt ein Ausführungsbeispiel eines Verneblers mit einer Benetzungsoberfläche an einem Prallschirm.
• Fig. 6 zeigt einen Vernebler, mit einem Verneblungsraum, einem Mundstück und einem Membran-Aerosolgenerator.

In the following, the invention is described in more detail on the basis of exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying figures.

• Figure 1 shows an embodiment of a nebulizer with a wetting surface on a supply air chimney,
• Figure 2 shows a cross section of a nebulizer without a wetting surface,
• Figure 3 shows a cross section of the in Figure 1 shown nebulizer,
• Figure 4 shows a nebulizer in which the nebulization space is completely provided with the wetting surface.
• Figure 5 shows an embodiment of a nebulizer with a wetting surface on an impact screen.
• Fig. 6 shows a nebulizer, with a nebulization chamber, a mouthpiece and a membrane aerosol generator.

Figure 1 shows an embodiment of a nebulizer 1 with a wetting surface 2 on a supply air chimney 3. The in FIG Figure 1 The nebulizer 1 shown has a boundary wall 4 which encloses a nebulization space 5. In the nebulization space 5 there is an aerosol generator 6, which is designed as a two-substance nozzle 7. The two-substance nozzle 7 has a gas channel 8 and three liquid channels 9, with FIG Figure 1 only two of the three liquid channels 9 are shown. The gas channel 8 has a connection, not shown, for a compressed air source. The liquid channels 9 are set up to interact with a medicament reservoir 10. The gas channel 8 and the liquid channels 9 open adjacent to one another in one Atomization region 11 of the two-substance nozzle 7. An air flow control 13 is provided opposite an orifice 12 of the gas channel 8.

An air intake chimney 3 extends from an inlet opening 14 of the boundary wall 4 in the direction of the two-substance nozzle 7. The outside 15 of the air intake chimney 3 is provided with a wetting surface 2. The wetting surface 2 extends over the entire length and half of the circumference of the supply air chimney 3. The wetting surface 2 extends over half the circumference of the supply air chimney 3, which faces an outlet 16 provided in the boundary wall 4.

When the nebulizer 1 is in operation, a liquid medicament passes from the medicament reservoir 10 through the liquid channels 9 to the nebulization region 11. Compressed air also passes through the gas channel 8 to the nebulization region 11. When inhaling, a patient sucks in ambient air through the air inlet 3 to the nebulization region 11. an aerosol is created in the atomization region 11 with the aid of the air flow controller 13. When inhaling, the patient sucks aerosol out of the nebuliser 1 through the outlet 16. As a result, medicament liquid reaches the inside of the boundary wall 4 and the supply air chimney 3. This medicament liquid reduces the size of the passage 18 between the boundary wall 4 and the supply air chimney 3. As a result, less aerosol can reach the patient.

This effect is less at the wetting surface 2, as is shown below on the basis of FIG Figures 2 and 3 is described.

Figure 2 shows a cross section of a nebulizer 1 without a wetting surface. Thick liquid droplets 17 are located on the boundary wall 4 and the supply air chimney 3. The passage 18 between the boundary wall 4 and the supply air chimney 3 is greatly reduced in size by the thick liquid droplets 17. Many aerosol droplets which are guided from the atomization region 11 through this passage 18 in the direction of the outlet 16 collide with the thick liquid droplets 17 and cannot reach the outlet 16.

Figure 3 shows a cross section of the in Figure 1 1. In this nebulizer 1, there are also thick liquid drops 17 on the boundary wall 4 and the supply air chimney 3. In the area of the wetting surface 2, however, there are no thick liquid drops 17, but flat liquid drops 19. This is achieved by the good wettability of the wetting surface 2. Because there are no thick liquid droplets 17 on the wetting surface 2, the cross section of the passage 18 is larger in this area. Fewer aerosol droplets collide with the flat liquid droplets 19. As a result, the output rate is greater than with a nebuliser 1 without a wetting surface 2.

Figure 4 shows a nebulizer 1 in which the nebulization space 5 is completely provided with the wetting surface 2. The inner wall of the boundary wall 4, the supply air chimney 3, the interior of a connection 24, the two-substance nozzle 7 and the air flow control 13 are provided with the wetting surface 2.

Figure 5 shows an embodiment of a nebulizer 1 with a wetting surface 2 on an impact screen 20. The in Figure 5 The nebulizer 1 shown corresponds essentially to that in FIG Figure 1 However, it is additionally equipped with an impact screen 20, an impact section 21 and a guide section 22.

The impact screen 20 is arranged in the area of the atomization region 11. It has essentially the shape of a hollow cylinder and is arranged in such a way that the atomization region 11 is located approximately in the center of the longitudinal axis of the impact screen 20. As a result, the baffle screen 20 extends around the atomization region 11. The baffle screen 20 is open on the end face 23 which points in the direction of the medicament reservoir 10. The end face 23 of the baffle screen 20, which is arranged closer to the outlet 16, is covered by the baffle section 21.

The baffle section 21 extends in an area adjacent to the outlet 16 up to the boundary wall 4. A passage 18 is present between the opposite area of the boundary wall 4 and the baffle screen 20.

The guide section 22 extends from the impact section 21 in the direction of the inlet opening 14. A passage 18 remains between the delimitation wall 4 with the inlet opening 14 and the guide section 22. The guide section 22 extends transversely between the outlet 16 and the region of the boundary wall 4 opposite it.

When operating the in Figure 5 The nebulizer 1 shown produces an aerosol according to the same principle as when operating the in FIG Figure 1 shown nebulizer 1.

The patient also sucks aerosol out of the nebuliser 1 through the outlet 16 while inhaling. For this purpose, the aerosol has to move from the atomization region 11 to the open end face 23 of the baffle screen 20. The aerosol then has to change direction and pass through the passage 18 between an outer side 15 of the impact screen 20 and the delimitation wall 4. From the passage 18 it must flow in the direction of the inlet opening 14 and then around the guide section 22 to the outlet 16.

This predetermined path is used to filter out unwanted aerosol droplets. Aerosol drops that are too large to follow the predetermined aerosol flow impinge on the baffle screen 20 or the guide section 22. There is only a small passage area for the aerosol between the baffle screen 20 and the two-substance nozzle 7. Depending on the liquid level in the medicament reservoir 10, this is restricted even further by the medicament. The exact geometry of the baffle screen 20 determines the filtered drop spectrum. The liquid that is located on the baffle screen 20 both reduces the passage area for the aerosol and changes the geometry. As a result, more droplets are filtered out, so that the output rate is low. In addition, the filtered drop spectrum is changed.

In order to minimize these effects, the impact screen 20 is completely provided with a wetting surface 2. After the in Figure 3 The principle described above is achieved by providing a wetting surface 2 that flat liquid droplets 19 are formed which change the geometry of the impact screen 20 little and only slightly reduce the area where the aerosol passes.

The invention is based on Figures 1 , 4th and 5 has been described in connection with a two-fluid nozzle. However, it is not limited to nebulizers with this type of aerosol generator.

Figure 6 shows a nebulizer 1, with a nebulization chamber 5, a mouthpiece 25 and a membrane aerosol generator 26. The vibrating membrane 27 can e.g. B. are set in vibration by ring-shaped piezo elements, not shown in the figure. On one side of the vibrating membrane 27, in Fig. 6 above, there is a liquid when the nebulizer 1 is in operation, through openings in the Vibrating membrane 27 transported through and on the other side of the vibrating membrane 27, in Fig. 6 below, is released as an aerosol into the nebulization chamber 5.

The nebulization space 5 is provided with a wetting surface 2.

The patient can exhale the aerosol present in the nebulization chamber 5 at the mouthpiece 25. In order not to induce the patient to stop using the therapy device after inhaling the aerosol, the mouthpiece 25 has an exhalation opening 28 which is closed by an elastic valve element 29. If the patient exhales into the mouthpiece 25 and thus into the nebulization chamber 5, the elastic valve element 29 opens so that the exhaled air can exit from the interior of the nebulizer 1. When inhaling, ambient air flows through the membrane aerosol generator 26.

List of reference symbols

1

Nebulizer

2

Wetting surface

3

Supply air chimney

4th

Boundary wall

5

Nebulization room

6th

Aerosol generator

7th

Two-substance nozzle,

8th

Gas duct

9

Fluid channels

10

Drug reservoir

11

Atomization region

12

mouth

13

Airflow control

14th

Inlet opening

15th

Outside

16

Outlet

17th

thick drops of liquid

18th

passage

19th

flat drops of liquid

20th

Impact screen

21st

Impact section

22nd

Leading section

23

Face

24

connection

25th

Mouthpiece

26th

Membrane aerosol generator

27

Vibrating membrane

28

Exhalation opening

29

Valve element

Claims (10)

1. Nebuliser (1) with an aerosol generator (6), a nebulising chamber (5), a reservoir for storing liquid which is to be nebulised and with an outlet (16), wherein the nebuliser is configured such that the liquid which has been deposited on surfaces in the nebulising chamber can drain into the reservoir, the reservoir is configured to deliver the liquid to the aerosol generator, the aerosol generator (6) is configured to generate liquid droplets and mix these with gas and thus to generate aerosol and output aerosol into the nebulising chamber (5), the outlet (16) is configured to make possible a removal of the aerosol from the nebulising chamber (5), and a wetting surface (2) is provided in the nebulising chamber (5) and the wetting surface is provided on a plastic component, and the wetting surface is configured to be wetted with the liquid, and is configured such that liquid droplets which reach the wetting surface lie on the wetting surface so that a liquid film is formed, wherein the nebulising chamber has a boundary wall which comprises the wetting surface and which delimits the nebulising chamber in relation to the environment.
2. Nebuliser (1) with an aerosol generator (6), a nebulising chamber (5), a reservoir for storing liquid which is to be nebulised and with a outlet (16), wherein the nebuliser is configured such that the liquid which has been deposited on surfaces in the nebulising chamber can drain into the reservoir, the reservoir is configured to deliver the liquid to the aerosol generator, the aerosol generator (6) is configured to generate liquid droplets and mix these with gas and thus to generate aerosol and output aerosol into the nebulising chamber (5), the outlet (16) is configured to make possible a removal of the aerosol from the nebulising chamber (5), and a wetting surface (2) is provided in the nebulising chamber (5) and the wetting surface is provided on a plastic component, and the wetting surface is configured to be wetted with the liquid, and is configured such that liquid droplets which reach the wetting surface lie on the wetting surface so that a liquid film is formed, wherein the nebulising chamber has an air inlet which comprises the wetting surface and which makes it possible for ambient air to enter the nebulising chamber, wherein the air inlet is configured to conduct ambient air past the aerosol generator to the outlet.
3. Nebuliser (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the aerosol generator (6) has a nozzle (7).
4. Nebuliser (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the nebulising chamber (5) has an aerosol guide which connects the aerosol generator (6) with the outlet (16), and the aerosol guide comprises the wetting surface (2).
5. Nebuliser (1) according to claim 4, characterised in that a surface of the aerosol guide comprises the wetting surface (2).
6. Nebuliser (1) according to claim 4 or claim 5, characterised in that an edge of the aerosol guide comprises the wetting surface (2).
7. Nebuliser (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the aerosol guide comprises a passage (18) and the passage (18) comprises the wetting surface (2).
8. Nebuliser (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the reservoir (10) comprises the wetting surface (2).
9. Method for producing a nebuliser (1) with a wetting surface (2), comprising the steps:

   - producing a nebuliser (1) with an aerosol generator (6), a nebulising chamber (5), a reservoir for storing liquid which is to be nebulised and an outlet (16), wherein the nebuliser is configured such that the liquid which has been deposited on surfaces in the nebulising chamber can drain into the reservoir, wherein the reservoir is configured to deliver the liquid to the aerosol generator, wherein the aerosol generator (6) is configured to generate liquid droplets and mix these with gas and thus to generate aerosol and output aerosol into the nebulising chamber (5), and wherein the outlet (16) is configured to make possible a removal of the aerosol from the nebulising chamber (5);
   and

   - providing a wetting surface (2) on a plastic component in the nebulising chamber (5) which is configured to be wetted with the liquid and is configured such that liquid droplets which reach the wetting surface lie on the wetting surface so that a liquid film is formed, wherein the wetting surface (2) is provided by fluorinating a boundary wall which the nebulising chamber posseses and which delimits the nebulising chamber in relation to the environment.
10. Method for producing a nebuliser (1) with a wetting surface (2), comprising the steps:

    - producing a nebuliser (1) with an aerosol generator (6), a nebulising chamber (5), a reservoir for storing liquid which is to be nebulised and an outlet (16), wherein the nebuliser is configured such that the liquid which has been deposited on surfaces in the nebulising chamber can drain into the reservoir, wherein the reservoir is configured to deliver the liquid to the aerosol generator, wherein the aerosol generator (6) is configured to generate liquid droplets and mix these with gas and thus to generate aerosol and output aerosol into the nebulising chamber (5), and wherein the outlet (16) is configured to make possible a removal of the aerosol from the nebulising chamber (5);
    and

    - providing a wetting surface (2) on a plastic component in the nebulising chamber (5) which is configured to be wetted with the liquid and is configured such that liquid droplets which reach the wetting surface lie on the wetting surface so that a liquid film is formed, wherein the wetting surface (2) is provided by fluorinating an air inlet which the nebulising chamber possesses and which makes it possible for ambient air to enter into the nebulising chamber, wherein the air inlet is configured to conduct ambient air past the aerosol generator to the outlet.

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